Historical Landart - the Viewing Mount

Large-scale manipulation of the ground didn't, of course, begin with the Land Art movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Landscapes have been molded for purposes mostly defensive and sometimes symbolic since prehistoric times; perhaps the most familiar application being castle moats.

With more peaceful times, castles devolved into country houses--a change which can be traced in increasing numbers of doors and windows and decreasing thicknesses of walls--and earthworks, no longer needed for defense, took on a gentler purpose.

As soon as the ground plane began to be arranged in formal patterns, it must have been obvious that the garden was best viewed from above. Early gardens were placed where they were overlooked by the upper galleries of the house so that even if the weather did not permit strolling out into the landscape, it could still be enjoyed from while taking a turn about an upstairs room.

And when outside, a great pile of dirt--an artificial hill, reminiscent of fortifications past, created an elevated viewing space for overlooking the garden and was a logical use for the soil excavated from water features and sunken gardens.

What must have begun as a simple hill gradually took on an elaborate sculpted form, as paths were carved into it for reaching the top, and decorative features were added. Eventually they would be adorned with temples, and even revolving seats for taking the 360 view...an overlook to the garden still, but also a destination in themselves.

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1 comment:

Very interesting - great illustrations. Andrew Graham-Dixon was on TV this week ('The Culture Show') visiting Jenkes' garden. He noted how the forms and mounds look computer designed (like "a futuristic golf course"), but this is not necessarily a criticism for a garden inspired by ideas and science.

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When people hear I have a master's degree in Garden History, their first response is often to laugh. It does have something of the underwater-basket-weaving ring to it. Next they're surprised, as I myself was initially, to find out that it is in fact a serious and scholarly 'field' of study; much like architectural history, only about landscapes instead of buildings.

Then, then, they're fascinated. It only takes a little explaining for them to catch on that gardens are so much more than just a pretty place. So much more than just a collection of plants. I hope to share what, and why, with this blog.

History begins with the last moment. So this blog will also include recent garden history...spaces and objects of interest now, as well as what is past. No generation has a lock on what is beautiful or innovative, so the best understanding, the best design, the most satisfying garden places, have something of both past and present, now and then.